In this video I’m not just adding to the echo chamber of exited “influencers” who are intent on getting you to click their affiliate links! If an overseas knife company wants you to spend that kind of money on a knife, it better be perfect!
LMAO! I thought I was the only openly college educated knife reviewer on TH-cam! You know, with all these juvie criminals, chicken farmers, Swiss clock makers, Swedish step brothers, tactical back yard lumberjacks and whatever Tristate is trying to pose as…
Love your videos brotha. I think you’re the only knifetuber I watch that’s fully transparent about knives you’re sent. These “big name” TH-camrs are promoting junk and I can’t stand them anymore. Keep it up man
I was gifted the 14c28n version of the Mini Nightshade. It stays on my desk and I use it exclusively to cut shipping labels from a “modified” pinch grip. It works well for that, but it is limited as an EDC. Good stuff as always my friend 👊🏻
@@TimsSchoolOfFish I’m shocked you own a desk! For some reason I envision your house as one continuous series of trophy rooms with tables and chairs made of rough cut wood with one leather bound recliner in the middle 🤣 Wouldn’t it be funny if you turned out to be a sociology professor in an ivy league university?
@@CuttingBoardRx Haha🤣 I was, in fact, a biology professor for 20 years… not at an Ivy League university though. I retired from that and I’m a mortgage broker now… definitely have a desk.
I own the nightshade first generation. I think the blade is made with 154CM. Maybe the geometry is a little weird, but I really love it. For normal use like opening packages, cutting ropes and slicing steaks, it works pretty well. Normally I strope all my knives after 1 week of use and my nightshade is always razor sharp. Also, the design is not something you can see everyday.
@@luisnouel4268 I totally agree, but my first experience with this blade shape was Fintiso Cobra and that knife was my daily carry on couple of major trips. I think cobra has cleaner lines while Nighshade comes in better colors but all in all, they almost seem like close siblings. Don’t you love it when Chinese companies compete amongst themselves?
So this type of blade shape is not new to me, it’s fairly common to see a large fixed blade version of these type of knives around 10-15 inch length in Asia and South America. They are primarily used in agriculture as working knives/machetes. And yes the generic term for a blade shape like that in those countries is called a “leaf knife or leaf blade” because it resembles a leaf. Some are angled down blades like this folder, or sometimes straight, depends on the local blacksmith I guess.
Excellent review!! I find the level of information you share in a review are excellent. Very objective with real tests providing data to make an informed decision. Keep it up.
Pretty accurate info across the board. Only one that ain't selling out. Outdoors55, Cedric and Ada, outpost76 and CBRX. Gotta respect that, when it ain't about money that's when the truth comes out. Keep it up CBRX.
@@EDCandLace I feel outpost55 totally let Jared slide on the live they did not long ago when Neeves had amnesia about selling fragrances/metrosexual products on his channel. Not to mention the “Japanese” chef knives fiasco…
I know i watched it, but cant recall which video it was where you explained the singular lady you say hi to at beginning of every video. Was it your wife as the singular "Lady" you're saying hello to?
Well, you didn't beat up that Vosteed too much. It least you didn't take it to visit the 'Tree of Doom'. I'll be watching to see if more Vosteed knives show up :-)
I suggest the 14c28n mini or the full size in Elmax. I own both have used the full size like twice as much, although it's mostly because of a personal preference of a flipper tab and a blade hole over the axis lock.
@CuttingBoardRx I used to live about 5 minutes from the factory. I dropped it off and took maybe a week. They also asked if I wanted it sharpened. "No, thank you." Go to pick it up, and they sharpened it. I had a mirror edge on it. The edge they put on it was terrible. Wouldn't cut paper.
@@jgranger2002 Well, they are using the best sharpening system our industry can produce: Work Sharp MK2 Professional Electric Knife and Tool Sharpener. Thy also hire left handed persons to do the right hand jobs. The money you spend on Benchmade products goes to feed a unicorn that lives behind the plant and eats exclusively golden eggs and emerald acorns. It then poops out 940 Osbornes, which are the best selling knives ever. So what’s your problem?! 🤣😂🥺
@@CuttingBoardRx yeah. I can confidently say I'll never buy another benchmade. Their clame to fame is an expired patent for a lock that depends on 2 tiny springs.
I had the mini nightshade in 14c28n and I was having pretty bad edge retention issues. It just wouldnt hold a fine edge for me. Ended up selling the knife. PS was that billy goat trail at the end? I was there yesterday and it looks like it to me lol
@@Hadeeez 14C28N is not famous for edge retention, however sharpening it to a 15-16 degree angle goes a long way to towards reducing edge rounding off. It’s a tough steel and will not chip even at extreme sharpening angles. The trail was actually in Maryland, called Chimney Rock/Wolf Rock. I misspoke calling it Virginia mountain. Besides, I wouldn’t want my viewers to think I live in a socialist state.
On a lot of new factory knives the initial edge metal is compromised by certain common practices. To save on resources the blades are ground as thin as possible prior to hear treatment. This leads to variability in the treatment across the blade; so if the main mass of the blade is well treated the edge will be less so. Then in the final grind they burn the edge. You need to sharpen past that initial crapped out steel, into the good stuff. It doesn't take so long because the scorched steel has lost temper. You can feel the difference as you start grinding into the good steel.
I have all 3 in First Production and the Gold class as collectible pieces plus the blue one to EDC. It’s a good knife but it has a little bit of a pocket jewelry feel to it. I carry it a lot in the back pocket as my grooming/fidget knife in addition to whichever 3”+ blade is in my front pocket.
@@CuttingBoardRx I can deff see that. Looks like a fidget knife. It almost looks like something Kizer would put out. Deff an interesting option. Thank you for your thoughts.
I like some volsteed designs but im not a fan of this one. Personally i like a bigger knife. I have no use for these little knives. What i do like is your looking into more affordable regular people knives. So even though im not interested in this knife i give you likes and comments to help you. I understand the amount of work you're doing an appropriate even if i don't always agree.
Lose the cool scales and merge the droopy Canadian skinner blade with novelty handles. A ‘melting dessert warrior’ colab with Civivi would make this even less threatening than a Victorinox.
All I can say about the "Sigma spring " as you call it is that I have not experienced any failures with this type of spring yet. I have experienced many Omega spring failures. My definition of a spring failure is a fracture, break or the inability to return the lock bar to battery for solid lockup of the blade. I see quite a few Asian knife manufactures going with the sigma style spring and I will assume that they have a good reason for doing so. Real world experience always trumps theoretical engineering design IMHO. I do think that the material being used ( 304 stainless spring wire) for the majority of the omega springs offered is not the correct material to use for the omega spring design.
@@wayneanderson991 Thanks for commenting! My experience with omega springs is limited to Benchmade and Hogue knives, I have others but I mostly carry these 2 brands. Not a single failure since I bought my first Adamas in 2012. What I like about this particular Vosteed spring set, they appear to have a high polish or perhaps even anodized finish, which can greatly improve corrosion resistance, which prevents pitting, which is the leading cause of spring failures in knives.
I've never had one fail neither BUT I don't fidget with my knives. The people I see breaking them are the ones that sit and flick open and closed all day and they reach that cycle limit pretty quickly. That's what happens when someone fidgets with a knife for a day cycling more than it would be opened and closed in many years of use. That's what breaks them for so many and others never break them. Now I'm not saying you can't have a failure right out the package but for the most part it's the nonstop fidgeting that breaks them.
@@CuttingBoardRx Exactly correct, the spring material is the issue and how it's handled. I'm going to experiment with some different spring material for my own curiosity. I have had no issues with my older Benchmade and Hogue omega springs, but that has not been the case with more current knives specifically Benchmade.
@@EDCandLace The fidgeting does have a detrimental affect on the omega springs life, but the spring material and how it's handle in manufacturing plays a roll in how well the spring performs in the long term also. Benchmade and other axis lock manufactures know this and also realize that most of the customers purchasing their high price knives will use them mostly as fidget toys instead of cutting tools because they are afraid to use the knife because they are so expensive. There are better spring materials available for the omega springs IMHO than what is used in the industry in general. I'm sure it has to do with cost! At the price of a Benchmade axis lock knife I think they could afford to put an extra set of omega's in with the knife and also offer OEM replacement's without having to send the knife back to Benchmade for repair. It's not that hard to replace the springs if they fail.
I find it odd how you seem to have an issue using this knife on a box it's perfect for it, the tip naturally points down so hold the damn thing in the handle like a non psychopath? While I'm at it peeling apples is dumb, oxidizes the fruit loses nutrients and fiber and takes more time to consume. Just be a man and cut a slice off. 😅 Sorry i think you are a cool dude, im an asshole and I like this knife. That being said i think the budget ones and the full size versions are much much better value than the version you have. Full size flipper variant nightshade is where its at in my personal opinion.
@@ix8750 Great! We are in agreement on at least one point in your comment! I’ll let you figure out which one 🤣😂👍 Thanks for making me laugh after a dull day in the office!
@@CuttingBoardRxWith blades that have a heavy drop point, I find putting an index finger along the spine is all you need to do to stop it cutting too deep when you want more control (like with a parcel). No pinch grip required.
@@CuttingBoardRx Well I hope the part of my comment you agree with is the scientifically true part about apples losing nutrients and oxidizing when you peel them, my second guess would be that you may agree that pinch grip is usually only necessary for opening boxes for those with dexterity issues and I suppose the 3rd most likely part is that you agree with is that the full size Nightshades is better than the mini, primarily because of the extra size of course but also because it allows you to opt out of the Crossbar lock if you wish.
In this video I’m not just adding to the echo chamber of exited “influencers” who are intent on getting you to click their affiliate links! If an overseas knife company wants you to spend that kind of money on a knife, it better be perfect!
LMAO! I thought I was the only openly college educated knife reviewer on TH-cam! You know, with all these juvie criminals, chicken farmers, Swiss clock makers, Swedish step brothers, tactical back yard lumberjacks and whatever Tristate is trying to pose as…
Spare a thought for the bumbling amateurs!
Love your videos brotha. I think you’re the only knifetuber I watch that’s fully transparent about knives you’re sent. These “big name” TH-camrs are promoting junk and I can’t stand them anymore. Keep it up man
I was gifted the 14c28n version of the Mini Nightshade.
It stays on my desk and I use it exclusively to cut shipping labels from a “modified” pinch grip.
It works well for that, but it is limited as an EDC.
Good stuff as always my friend 👊🏻
@@TimsSchoolOfFish I’m shocked you own a desk! For some reason I envision your house as one continuous series of trophy rooms with tables and chairs made of rough cut wood with one leather bound recliner in the middle 🤣
Wouldn’t it be funny if you turned out to be a sociology professor in an ivy league university?
@@CuttingBoardRx
Haha🤣
I was, in fact, a biology professor for 20 years… not at an Ivy League university though.
I retired from that and I’m a mortgage broker now… definitely have a desk.
I own the nightshade first generation. I think the blade is made with 154CM.
Maybe the geometry is a little weird, but I really love it. For normal use like opening packages, cutting ropes and slicing steaks, it works pretty well.
Normally I strope all my knives after 1 week of use and my nightshade is always razor sharp.
Also, the design is not something you can see everyday.
@@luisnouel4268 I totally agree, but my first experience with this blade shape was Fintiso Cobra and that knife was my daily carry on couple of major trips. I think cobra has cleaner lines while Nighshade comes in better colors but all in all, they almost seem like close siblings. Don’t you love it when Chinese companies compete amongst themselves?
So this type of blade shape is not new to me, it’s fairly common to see a large fixed blade version of these type of knives around 10-15 inch length in Asia and South America. They are primarily used in agriculture as working knives/machetes. And yes the generic term for a blade shape like that in those countries is called a “leaf knife or leaf blade” because it resembles a leaf. Some are angled down blades like this folder, or sometimes straight, depends on the local blacksmith I guess.
In Canada with the Nightshade or mini we have the choice between 14C28N or Elmax. Not much S35VN. But the price is different too😅
Excellent review!! I find the level of information you share in a review are excellent. Very objective with real tests providing data to make an informed decision. Keep it up.
In France we call these kind of knife "pelle à tarte". Nice review btw.
Pie Cutter? Great name! I wish I knew before I finished the video, would have been a great excuse to buy some pie!
@@CuttingBoardRxyes to cut and serve. The blade is large enought to support a piece of cake.
@@armandkokotajlo2085 advertisement idea: Vosteed Nightshade - making serving pie a piece of cake!
It's an eyecatching design. Never thought it looked especially functional as a knife, still I enjoy looking at it.
@@dongkhamet1351 I love the texture on the handle!
@@CuttingBoardRx I bet that blade would be an excellent spreader of butter, pâte, soft cheeses etc. One for the tactical picnic.
Real knife industry journalism
@@JM-ct9lg Thank you!
Pretty accurate info across the board. Only one that ain't selling out. Outdoors55, Cedric and Ada, outpost76 and CBRX. Gotta respect that, when it ain't about money that's when the truth comes out. Keep it up CBRX.
@@EDCandLace I feel outpost55 totally let Jared slide on the live they did not long ago when Neeves had amnesia about selling fragrances/metrosexual products on his channel. Not to mention the “Japanese” chef knives fiasco…
@@EDCandLaceI second your line-up.
Reminds me of the bob lum Chinese style spyderco
Not a huge fan of that blade shape but the scale design/pattern looks great 👍
I know i watched it, but cant recall which video it was where you explained the singular lady you say hi to at beginning of every video. Was it your wife as the singular "Lady" you're saying hello to?
If a knife makes me feel good. Then it’s a good knife to me.
Well, you didn't beat up that Vosteed too much. It least you didn't take it to visit the 'Tree of Doom'. I'll be watching to see if more Vosteed knives show up :-)
@@tombrown4683 it’s not being advertised and sold as “outdoors tactical survival hunting” knife, so no tree of doom.
@CuttingBoardRx was just kidding about that. I think we all have knives that wouldn't be wise to tip test.
Awesome
Opinions on getting the 14C28N mini nightshade instead of the S35VN?
Way to go if you’re into the interesting blade shape.
I’ve had the 14c for quite a bit. G10 handle. Awesome little cutter for a bargain
I suggest the 14c28n mini or the full size in Elmax. I own both have used the full size like twice as much, although it's mostly because of a personal preference of a flipper tab and a blade hole over the axis lock.
1 of my 940 omega springs broke in 2 months after purchase.
@@jgranger2002 How long did it take Benchmade to replace it?
@CuttingBoardRx I used to live about 5 minutes from the factory. I dropped it off and took maybe a week. They also asked if I wanted it sharpened. "No, thank you." Go to pick it up, and they sharpened it. I had a mirror edge on it. The edge they put on it was terrible. Wouldn't cut paper.
@@jgranger2002 Well, they are using the best sharpening system our industry can produce: Work Sharp MK2 Professional Electric Knife and Tool Sharpener. Thy also hire left handed persons to do the right hand jobs. The money you spend on Benchmade products goes to feed a unicorn that lives behind the plant and eats exclusively golden eggs and emerald acorns. It then poops out 940 Osbornes, which are the best selling knives ever. So what’s your problem?!
🤣😂🥺
@@CuttingBoardRx yeah. I can confidently say I'll never buy another benchmade. Their clame to fame is an expired patent for a lock that depends on 2 tiny springs.
I had the mini nightshade in 14c28n and I was having pretty bad edge retention issues. It just wouldnt hold a fine edge for me. Ended up selling the knife.
PS was that billy goat trail at the end? I was there yesterday and it looks like it to me lol
@@Hadeeez 14C28N is not famous for edge retention, however sharpening it to a 15-16 degree angle goes a long way to towards reducing edge rounding off. It’s a tough steel and will not chip even at extreme sharpening angles.
The trail was actually in Maryland, called Chimney Rock/Wolf Rock. I misspoke calling it Virginia mountain. Besides, I wouldn’t want my viewers to think I live in a socialist state.
On a lot of new factory knives the initial edge metal is compromised by certain common practices.
To save on resources the blades are ground as thin as possible prior to hear treatment. This leads to variability in the treatment across the blade; so if the main mass of the blade is well treated the edge will be less so.
Then in the final grind they burn the edge.
You need to sharpen past that initial crapped out steel, into the good stuff. It doesn't take so long because the scorched steel has lost temper.
You can feel the difference as you start grinding into the good steel.
What's your opinion on the Benchmade Immunity knife? I really don't see it talked about much.
I have all 3 in First Production and the Gold class as collectible pieces plus the blue one to EDC. It’s a good knife but it has a little bit of a pocket jewelry feel to it. I carry it a lot in the back pocket as my grooming/fidget knife in addition to whichever 3”+ blade is in my front pocket.
@@CuttingBoardRx I can deff see that. Looks like a fidget knife. It almost looks like something Kizer would put out. Deff an interesting option. Thank you for your thoughts.
I like some volsteed designs but im not a fan of this one.
Personally i like a bigger knife.
I have no use for these little knives.
What i do like is your looking into more affordable regular people knives.
So even though im not interested in this knife i give you likes and comments to help you. I understand the amount of work you're doing an appropriate even if i don't always agree.
@@richardhenry1969 I appreciate it! Good to have you on the channel!
Lose the cool scales and merge the droopy Canadian skinner blade with novelty handles. A ‘melting dessert warrior’ colab with Civivi would make this even less threatening than a Victorinox.
All I can say about the "Sigma spring " as you call it is that I have not experienced any failures with this type of spring yet. I have experienced many Omega spring failures. My definition of a spring failure is a fracture, break or the inability to return the lock bar to battery for solid lockup of the blade. I see quite a few Asian knife manufactures going with the sigma style spring and I will assume that they have a good reason for doing so. Real world experience always trumps theoretical engineering design IMHO. I do think that the material being used ( 304 stainless spring wire) for the majority of the omega springs offered is not the correct material to use for the omega spring design.
@@wayneanderson991 Thanks for commenting! My experience with omega springs is limited to Benchmade and Hogue knives, I have others but I mostly carry these 2 brands. Not a single failure since I bought my first Adamas in 2012. What I like about this particular Vosteed spring set, they appear to have a high polish or perhaps even anodized finish, which can greatly improve corrosion resistance, which prevents pitting, which is the leading cause of spring failures in knives.
I've never had one fail neither BUT I don't fidget with my knives. The people I see breaking them are the ones that sit and flick open and closed all day and they reach that cycle limit pretty quickly. That's what happens when someone fidgets with a knife for a day cycling more than it would be opened and closed in many years of use. That's what breaks them for so many and others never break them. Now I'm not saying you can't have a failure right out the package but for the most part it's the nonstop fidgeting that breaks them.
@@CuttingBoardRx Exactly correct, the spring material is the issue and how it's handled. I'm going to experiment with some different spring material for my own curiosity. I have had no issues with my older Benchmade and Hogue omega springs, but that has not been the case with more current knives specifically Benchmade.
@@wayneanderson991 I keep forgetting to start carrying the aluminum 710 with new flat omega springs. Wonder how they would hold up.
@@EDCandLace The fidgeting does have a detrimental affect on the omega springs life, but the spring material and how it's handle in manufacturing plays a roll in how well the spring performs in the long term also. Benchmade and other axis lock manufactures know this and also realize that most of the customers purchasing their high price knives will use them mostly as fidget toys instead of cutting tools because they are afraid to use the knife because they are so expensive. There are better spring materials available for the omega springs IMHO than what is used in the industry in general. I'm sure it has to do with cost! At the price of a Benchmade axis lock knife I think they could afford to put an extra set of omega's in with the knife and also offer OEM replacement's without having to send the knife back to Benchmade for repair. It's not that hard to replace the springs if they fail.
1st comment!
The impractical blade decreases the aesthetic beauty, in my mind. Having said that, I like the handle. Another good, honest review. Thanks for that.
Its a very practical blade.
I find it odd how you seem to have an issue using this knife on a box it's perfect for it, the tip naturally points down so hold the damn thing in the handle like a non psychopath? While I'm at it peeling apples is dumb, oxidizes the fruit loses nutrients and fiber and takes more time to consume. Just be a man and cut a slice off. 😅 Sorry i think you are a cool dude, im an asshole and I like this knife. That being said i think the budget ones and the full size versions are much much better value than the version you have. Full size flipper variant nightshade is where its at in my personal opinion.
@@ix8750 Great! We are in agreement on at least one point in your comment! I’ll let you figure out which one 🤣😂👍
Thanks for making me laugh after a dull day in the office!
@@CuttingBoardRxWith blades that have a heavy drop point, I find putting an index finger along the spine is all you need to do to stop it cutting too deep when you want more control (like with a parcel). No pinch grip required.
@@Naptosis Great point! Thanks for subscribing!
@@CuttingBoardRx Well I hope the part of my comment you agree with is the scientifically true part about apples losing nutrients and oxidizing when you peel them, my second guess would be that you may agree that pinch grip is usually only necessary for opening boxes for those with dexterity issues and I suppose the 3rd most likely part is that you agree with is that the full size Nightshades is better than the mini, primarily because of the extra size of course but also because it allows you to opt out of the Crossbar lock if you wish.
I hate that knife, it's ugly, it may work great, but it's ugly.